Hurt and complex trauma resulting from childhood maltreatment has serious consequences for the lifespan development of the survivor (Kezelman, Hossack, Stavropoulos, & Burley, 2015; van der Kolk, 2014). Child abuse and neglect involves a betrayal of trust, care and protection within the very relationships that the child relies upon for care (Courtois & Ford, 2013). Despite this, complex trauma research has focussed on symptomology rather than on relational difficulties (Chu, 2011). This qualitative study explored the meaning that 19 adult survivors of childhood abuse and neglect made of their relationship with their parent and their experiences of trust, hurt and healing. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to examine participants’ responses to three open-answer questions. Themes included a) permanent and generalised distrust and disconnection, b) expectation of hurt and/or of punishment, c) impact of abuse and neglect on memory, relationships, mental health, adult functioning and self-concept, d) self-protective or protective behaviour, e) slow and difficult healing, f) significant relationships with the other parent and siblings, and g) resilience. Implications of the findings of long-term and intergenerational impacts of child abuse and neglect will be discussed, including an exploration of resilience within survivors’ experiences.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to restate three themes from the lived experiences of a group of adult child abuse and neglect survivors.

Participants will be able to compare reports of the impact of child abuse and neglect on intergenerational relationships and functioning.

Participants will be able to describe examples of resilience in survivors of childhood abuse and neglect.